Artificial intelligence: are regions up to the challenge?

30 November 2017

This event brought together politicians, civil servants, entrepreneurs, academics and stakeholder groups in genuine exchange. The objective was to share experiences, stories, to understand each others’ challenges and to identify fields for action which can start now. Last year’s event focused on finding a common language for the deployment of e-health. 2017 was all about the artificial intelligence disruption and its impacts at regional level.

09:30

Opening: Inspiration

10:00

Sharing experiences: Who is afraid of the big bad #AI?

Parallel discussion groups

Supporting innovation, attracting innovators

How do you stimulate the emergence of valuable innovation in artificial intelligence? What are the areas where artificial intelligence would be best used? How should/ can regions attract innovators? How can start-ups and regional SMEs even have a chance to stand out on a market dominated by GAFA (Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon)?
Why should regions bother to step on AI train if others are already making giant steps? Is this of any use for regional job markets?
This roundtable focuses on the tools to support AI innovation & the purpose of doing so

The health revolution

Health is a sector witnessing major changes which not only disrupt how healthcare is delivered but also the whole organisation of healthcare. The role of patients becomes increasingly important in the era of the quantified self. Medical jobs are changing and hierarchy is re-organised. While artificial intelligence still seems science fiction to many, several applications are already on the market, often beating specialists in terms of diagnosis and treatment. Do we still need doctors? Is Big Brother watching our health data, and if so what are the risks? Will humanoid companions soon be gentler carers than humans? How are regions integrating artificial intelligence in their health and wellbeing policies? What can we expect in the coming years in terms of health innovation?

Culture in the digital age

While computer-generated art has been going for over 40 years it is getting new momentum with the increased capacities of modern processors and the artificial-intelligence hype. Artificial Intelligence creates paintings, poems, music and videos. It can even learn to analyse and evaluate art. Will AIs sweep the Oscars any time soon? If a work of art is created by something non-human, is it art? Is there any good in artificial intelligence for culture? Culture often represents a key element of regional development policies. Should policy makers anticipate the AI disruption in culture and if so, how?

Skills & competences: racing with machines

By one popular estimate, 65% of children entering primary school today will ultimately end up working in completely new job types that don’t yet exist. How do we ensure we are not creating obsolete workers? What are the skills and competences with high added value in tomorrow’s AI-pervaded society? Are we racing with or against machines? Where should the focus be in terms of education? Is it possible to mitigate the effects of massive job-losses via life-long learning? If so how should regions support workers in building salutary skills and competences?

AI: towards a soulless world?

What is the future of humanity in a world where robots are better at empathy than humans? What is the future of work and the relationship between humans and machines? Will we need to have our brains hacked and evolve as transhumans to keep up to speed with robots? Are we cyborgs already? What about social justice in a world where the wealthy will be able to enhance their bodies and brains? What about geopolitical consequences linked to new technologies & warfare, as well as the correlated race for energy & natural resources?